After trailing 7-13 at halftime, the COMMANDOS would rally in the 2nd half to get their first win of 2021 against the South Warren Spartans. The night would not start the way HHS would like as after receiving the opening kickoff, Hendersonville would fumble the ball on the 3rd play. The Spartans would take advantage by scoring with a 5 yard run to take an early 7 point lead. Hendersonville would answer with a nice drive with 1st downs by #10 Ellis Ellis, #13 Jack Brown, and #11 Luke Manning before Manning would connect with Ellis for a 32 yard TD to tie the game at 7. South Warren would return the kickoff to the 15 yard line and score 2 plays later with a rushing TD. The PAT would be no good leaving the score at 7-13. The teams would trade possession in the 2nd quarter with no scoring as the teams went to the locker rooms with South Warren up by 6 points. On the 1st drive of the 2nd half, #88 Jack Busey and #56 Kyle Duvall would combine for a sack before #53 Jaden Thorton would get a sack to force a South Warren punt. A first down run by Ellis followed with a big run by #32 Noah Carmean would help HHS move the ball down the field and Ellis would find the endzone with a 12 yard touchdown run. After missing the PAT, the score would be knotted at 13. On the next series for the Spartans a sack by #61 Donnell Brown and #2 Landon Barton would help force a punt. Jack Brown would pick up a first down as HHS began moving the ball again. Ellis would get in the endzone again on the ground, this time with a 57 yard run to give HHS a 20-13 lead. A first down by penalty would get the next Spartan drive started and they would continue to move the ball before finding the endzone with a 7 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 20. Hendersonville would be forced to punt and the Spartans would have the ball deep in HHS territory after a great return. On the 1st play of this drive, Thorton would force a fumble that #4 Cooper Dean would come up with. Hendersonville would take advantage of this turnover with a scoring drive highlighted with 1st down runs by #25 Torin Baker, #1 Jameson Wharton, and Jack Brown. The drive would end with Manning taking the ball into the endzone on a 30 yard run putting HHS up 27-20. The Spartans would convert on a 4th down after #66 Logan Whisnant came up with a sack for the COMMANDOS. #25 Torin Baker would end the scoring chance with an interception allowing the COMMANDOS to run out the clock and claim victory over South Warren. The COMMANDOS (1-1) will return to Memorial Stadium next Friday to begin Region 5-6A play as they will host the Beech Buccaneers (2-0). Kickoff is set for 7:00.
